two, two, TWO race reports in one [entry] !

Hills of Milltown 5K

Sunday, May 12

Ellicott City, Maryland

One of my coworkers is on the board for the Ellicott City Historical Society, and he suggested to me - and a few others in the office - to run the Hills of Milltown 5K Challenge, described justly: Even the down hill is up hill in this challenging annual spring 5K sharpener! The race route is scenic as well as challenging AND HISTORIC!  This 5K route proves a worthy challenge to even the advanced runner. With multiple hills along the way even the down hill is up hill in this scenic loop course which passes 13 historic sites. A challenge for beginners and a tough spring workout for those competing in longer distance or multi-sport races in the summer. The final approach to the summit climbs over-land to circle the beautiful ruins of the Patapsco Female Institute.

I understand that a race with the word HILLS in the title probably means I can't bitch about the course, but it's my blog so pffffft.

The race was on Mother's Day, but I didn't want to drag H and James out of bed so early (you know what's not a great idea? waking a sleeping toddler!) so we decided to meet for brunch after the race. I was probably the second racer there, and used that time to run a 2 1/2 warm up. I'm still undecided if a longer warm up helps or hinders or doesn't do anything at all. I've PR'd with warming up and I've PR'd without it. I've run good races with a warm up and bad races with a warm up.

Anyhow, I met up with a few coworkers (that's the last time I stand in the sun for a photo -- I'm so pale I'm practically see through!) pre race, so that was fun.

Then it was time to start.
And that, my bloggy friends, was not fun.

That first hill? BRUTAL.

Like oh-my-god-I-can't-breathe-my-legs-are-toast-no-jelly-no-jellytoast. My heart rate was skyrocketing.

And then it went down hill again. Hooray!

^^ coming up from the court house (behind the guy in the yellow)

And then back up. and then a nice long downhill and some rollers and then another long, tough climb. I let loose on the final downhill but my body was so spent I couldn't really pick up too much speed.

There were four women ahead of me (five if you count the woman who passed me at the end. I guess I should), so I didn't think I'd place. Based on my time (25:26.81) I didn't think I'd place.

... Imagine my delight and surprise when I got the emailed results the following morning:

31- 50 Female

1. G.S. F43 MD - 24:49.48

2. Tricia C. F31 MD - 25:26.81

3. K.O. F41 City MD - 26:25.68

Me? Second in an age group (and a large AG - 20 years)?? holy cow that's awesome!

Tell her what she won, Johnny!

Trishie, you've just won a Pandora bracelet and a charm!*

(charm I won: white with flowers on the right)
(*I already had the bracelet, so the nice folks at Pandora let me exchange it for two charms)

Time: 25:26
Pace: 8:12 (mile 1 - 8:11/ mile 2 - 8:06/ mile 3 - 8:23)
Overall: 28/ 175
Women: 87/ 175
AG (F31-50): 2/ 43

_____________________________________________________________________________
Following week...

Musical Madness 5K

Saturday, May 18

Fulton, Maryland

Friday afternoon I got a Facebook message from my friend Becky, another Ironman-turned-momma-shortly-after-Ironman. Did I want to do a 5K Saturday morning with her and another BT girl, Traci (another multi-sport momma)? My initial response was no, I couldn't, but after checking my calender (free!) and realizing I wanted to see if I could pick up another PR on a flat(ter) course, and after checking with James re: his schedule, I decided to do it.

Friday afternoon, after work/ daycare, H and I went to Feet First in Columbia to register. The race also had a 1K kids fun run, so why not?

We woke up and were out the door by 7am. Breakfast = frosted mini wheat for me and H. Coffee for James at the race start (bold move, James).

We met up with friends and H met Becky and Josh's little girl (one year younger than him and way cute). Neither would say hi but I think they got in a high five/ fist bump.

Lined up and we are off!

^^wow, a race photo were I don't look super awful! I mean, that's a win right there!

The race started and we were treated to a nice downhill (AHEM Hills of Milltown). I was running sub 7s holy crap that's fast for me. I finished the first mile in just under 7 minutes. Of course at this point I am all kinds of optimistic - I could break 21 minutes! I'm a superstar! I'm going to quit my job and become a professional athlete! - but that sunshine-y feeling ended as the course flattened out a bit and I realized that the downhill ... would be uphill on the way back. Okay, perhaps not a sub 21 but maybe a PR? As the race continued I was hurting - as you do with a 5K - and wondering why I thought this was a good idea, why would any sane person run fast for fun.... good god does this hurt. Made the turn around and headed back. I told myself to just HOLD ON. The last half mile was super painful and I was beat by a kid. Seriously, like a 10 year old. I saw James and H and made it to the finish. I wanted to puke but I didn't, so that's also a win.

I wasn't sure about my time - watch read 22:56 and I didn't look at the clock (not a chip race). Was happy with my time, although I'd love to go faster. New goal: sub 22.

H's race report: ran 100 feet. stopped. walked a little. tantrum. carried by daddy to the finish.
favorite part? MEDAL! POST RACE MUFFIN WITH THE SUGAR ON TOP! OPENING THE BAKERY DOOR!
least favorite part? the race. waiting for race results. taking pictures with mommy. not being able to run into the street. the door at the bakery was heavy.

And speaking of said race results ... I truly didn't think I'd place. There were a lot of women in front of me and the AGs were 10Y (30-39). And then I went over and checked the results. Out of the top three overall women --- two were in my AG, so they wouldn't count for AG awards. And then ... one... two.. three -- holy crap, that's me! I'm third! I counted again. And again. And then checked that the overall women wouldn't count towards the AG awards.

We stuck around and H came up with my to get my award -- a medal and a $15 to a local bar. sweet!



And then we had coffee and tea and bagels and the kids made giant messes with the muffins (we left a big tip and the boys cleaned muffin crumbs off of the floor - thanks guys!)

it's hard to get a get photo with three crazy toddlers and a baby ^^
Time: 22:54 - PR!
Pace: 7:22 (mile 1 - 6:59/ mile 2 - 7:32/ mile 3 - 7:39.... I think this is called a positive split.)
Overall: 43/ 198
Women: 12/ 91
AG (F30-39): 3/15